Near Smithfield, NC
Tuesday, April 11, 1865

Dear Diary,

What a glorious day for the Union!  Word has 
just reached us that General Lee surrendered 
to General Grant and the Army of the Potomac
over in Virginia, at a place called Appomattox 
Court House!  I can't but now believe that 
this War is all but over!

We didn't get too much in the way of details - 
seems that's always the way it is in the ranks, 
we're always the last to know.  However, seems
that Grant and his Army launched an all out 
assault on the Rebel positions around Richmond 
on the 2d, and the Reb lines finally broke!  
This after months and months of seige!  Anyway, 
Lee and most of his army got away, and were 
heading this way, I guess in hopes of linking 
up with Johnston's troops.

Grant didn't let up - kept right after the Rebs 
all the way.  The Rebs lost a large part of 
their army at Five Forks, then some more of it 
at a place called Saylor's Creek, but I've got 
to admit they were game right up to the end.  
Seems our cavalry under Sheridan, with most of 
a corps of infantry in support, got ahead of 
Lee and his men, and cut off their retreat.  
Pretty much surrounded, Lee had no choice but 
to surrender!  We don't know what the terms 
were,  but we do know that all the fighting 
came to a  halt on the 9th.  Praise Be!  After 
four years,  this terrible War is almost over!

Things have been pretty quite here.  Johnston 
and his army know they are whipped, and we've 
seen some white flags go back and forth over the
last day or so - but no word on anything like a 
surrender here.  But, everyone knows that Lee's 
surrender, and with it the fall of the Rebel
capitol, means the War is all but done.  I guess 
that's why things are quite - no one wants the 
"honor" of being the last killed!

I'm closing this entry up short - seems as 
though the boys are up for a little celebrating, 
and I sure don't want to be left out!  

Hurrah for President Lincoln and the Union!